November 2020 “Thug” Owen Ackers jailed for assaulting mum and girlfriend A “complete and utter animal” was jailed for “biting a chunk” from his mother’s face and stamping on his pregnant girlfriend’s head. Owen Alan Ackers, 23, of Lineside, Burton, was sentenced for causing grievous bodily harm with intent on his mother, Diane Ackers, and then-girlfriend Sapphire Bassett at Bournemouth Crown Court in December 2020. The defendant, who has a history of violence against women, drank vodka and took cocaine on April 21, 2020 before the attack started at his home address. Prosecuting, Susan Cavender told the court: “Owen took cocaine and accused Sapphire of sleeping around. “His mother became more and more concerned he was worked up. She hid one bottle of vodka and tired to take another bottle away from him. “His temper spilled over into an outburst of terror and rage. He was behaving like a complete and utter animal. “Sapphire tried to pull the defendant away from Diane, he turned to her and pulled her by her hair on to the floor. “The defendant stamped repeatedly on her head until she was unconscious. That left an imprint on her face.” The court heard how Ackers then punched Ms Ackers and bit her between her eyes, taking a chunk out her face. A victim impact statement from Ms Bassett, who was pregnant at the time and has since given birth without problems, said: “You broke me and belittled me, I thought I was worthless. “I was ready to be a family and no one but you ripped that away. “One day I will get there and I will be happy again, you killed us, not me. “Rio is my number one and always will be. He looks like a Bassett and always will be a Bassett.” The defendant claimed to be remorseful for the incident, but judge Robert Pawson threw that out when he saw Ackers “mouth obscenities” to Ms Bassett from the dock. Ackers had initially entered a not guilty plea to causing GBH with intent, but changed his plea after a jury was sworn in at his trial last month. Mr Pawson sentenced Ackers to eight and half years in prison for the assault on his mother, just under six years for the assault on Ms Bassett and two months for breaching a restraining order in place on Ms Bassett. He will also serve an additional 18 months on licence. He would serve the sentences concurrently, meaning he will spend eight and a half years behind bars.